The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-11
THE BEECHER FUNERAL.

THE BEECHER FUNERAL.
The HabIliments of Woe. hut bright
Clothing, Flow ers and Plenty of Light.
NEW YORK. March 10.-In spite of the
rain the streets i'm the vicinity of Rev.
III. w. Beecher's house were crowded
with people this morning. At 8 O'Clock
Police Captain Campbell and a squad o,
twenty police took up their station
i'm front of the house. A large number
of floral emblems were received before
the private services commenced. Two
wreaths of W hite roses lilies of the valley
and smilax We're received by Mrs. Colo
mel Beecher early in the morning. These
bore the cards of Ellen Terry and Henry
Irving. Mrs. s. V. White sent pillow
of white roses.
The coffin rested in the center of the
front parlor and was surrounded with a
bank of fragrant flowers. The sweet
perfume of the flowers pervaded the air
and ON all sides could be seen floral em-
blems from friends and admirers of the
dead divine. The remains We're dressed
i'm a suit of black broadcloth, with the
frock coat buttoned up and the right
hand laid across the breast. The features
We're natural and there was a smile upon
the face. The long gray hair was brush
ell back over the ears, as Mr. Beecher
wore it while alive. Early in the morn
ing before the service. Mrs. Beecher went
into the parlor and stood by the coffin
for some time. She bent over the re-
mains and after imprinting kiss upon
the cold lips was led into the back room.
Promptly at 9::s0 O'Clock, Rev. Chas.
III. Hall, of the church of the Holy Trini-
ty, entered the house. After short
conversation with Maj. Pond, he entered
the front parlor and commenced to read
the burial service from the ritual of the
Episcopal church. a quartet consisting
of I. Werrenrath, tenor; G.. Chaplin.
basso; Mrs. werrenrath, soprano, and
Mrs. Lazar Studwell, contrtlto. sang
Jesus, Lover of my Soul" beyond
Signing and Weeping" and Come Holy
Spirit"
While the services were in progress in
y
company. Thirteenth Regiment, was
drawn up in front of the house ON Hicks
street. They were dressed in the regula-
ton uniform of white gloves. white
belts and white helmets. Capt. William
L. Watson was in command.
Only members of the family and a
few intimate friends were present during
the services at the house. The family
was seated in the back parior. None of
the family was dressed in black. Mrs.
Beecher sat near the remains during the
reading of the service, and by her side
were her Sons and daughters and MEM
bers Of the family. She bore up wonder
fully during the whole of the ceremony
and was quite calm.
At the conclusion Of the services ut the
house, Rev. DIR. Hall spoke fifteen min
utes. He was very much affected. and
evidently spoke from his heart. He re-
ferred to the strong friendship that for
years had existed between them. and said
that this friendship began in old slavery
days. Why Mr.. Beecher had ent. rtained
for him (Dr. Hall such strong, unswerv-
ing and loyal attachment he could not
say. hut h vos.;sstA' I'll It .s'.sss that
he loved Mr.. Beecher. 1t was because of
his great sincerity, his nobiemindedness.
his love for all men. his sincere sympathy
for a friend i'm trouble, and his many
beautiful traits Of personal character.
THE WILL
n -.
afternoon in the presence of the family.
1t is probable that it will not be filed for
probate, as one of the main provisions
authorizes members of the family to set
tie among themselves the division of
what there is left. The chief feature of
it is that Mrs. Beecher is first provided
for Its contents will not he known un-
less the will is probated. as it is the wish
of the family that no publication of its
contents should be made, Only the most
intimate friends of the family, outside of
the family itself. are acquainted with
the provisions of the viii. and none of
them will divulge its contents without
Mrs. Beecher's consent.
Tonight the Bs.,cher residence was
brilliantly lighted. AMI everything
around the house was made ~ bright az
possible. Mrs. Beecher had been in her
late husbands room n great portion of
the afternoon hooking over his papers
Ii seems delight to her tn he near where
her husband spent much of hts time. The
members of the family were dressed in
bright clothing as though going To
church ON SUNDAY, and everything
around was made a. light and cheerful
rs possible. i'm accordance with the often
expressed wish of Mr.. Beecher in case Of
such AN event as the sal one just pssss<sL
Many visitors called during the day ON
visits of coincidence tn Mrs. Betcl,er.
Many flowers were sent. Only the most
intimate friends were, however. received
in the house. Among the hundreds of
persons who left cards Were ciergymen
and strangers from all sections of the
country. About . O'Clock Henry George
and DIR. McGlynn left their cards
Weather Indications.